The Norwegian Opera & Ballet, which has been struggling financially, found a way to generate some new revenues while cleaning out storage lockers at the same time. On Saturday, hundreds of costumes used in performances over the years would be offered for sale to the public.
Doors were due to open at 9am, with the sale continuing until 3pm at the waterfront Opera House on Oslo’s eastern waterfront. Opera officials were expecting so much interest that the public would be ushered into the Opera’s lobby in limited groups.
Many of the costmes have been on display for weeks, giving the public a glimpse of what will be up for grabs: Ballgowns from a production of Nattens dronning (Mozart’s Queen of the Night), for example, and vests used in Around the World in 80 Days.
So anyone lacking an outfit for a carnival or ball can likely find something unique but prices weren’t exactly cheap. A gown used in Andrea Chernier carried a tag of NOK 6,500 (nearly USD 800). Some items, however, were tagged at just NOK 100, and others may be auctioned.
“We need to empty our costume closets to make room for new costumes for new performances,” Gunnar Fon, group leader for the women’s sewing division, told newspaper Aftenposten. “And then there’s the economic bit. Selling some of our costumes contributes to the Opera’s economy.” Bank cards and cash would be accepted.
newsinenglish.no staff
